Bayless signs with Bucks because of Kidd

Boston Celtics guard Jerryd Bayless, left, drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, April 5, 2014, in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons defeated the Celtics 115-111. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

MILWAUKEE — Free agent Jerryd Bayless signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in large part because of Jason Kidd.

The 6-foot-3 guard played for Memphis and Boston last season, averaging 9.3 points in 72 games. Now he gets a chance to play for Jason Kidd, who left the Brooklyn Nets this summer to coach the Bucks.

“The thing that was most intriguing was Kidd,” Bayless said Thursday at the Bucks’ training facility. “He can help me in a variety of different ways. There aren’t a lot of guys like him that come around.”

General manager John Hammond announced the deal Thursday, but terms were not disclosed.

Kidd, one of the NBA’s great point guards, spent 19 seasons in the league. He is beginning his second year as an NBA coach. Bayless calls him a “once-in-a-generation” player.

“He’s a young coach, but he’s been in the league a long time,” Bayless said.

Bayless was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th pick in the 2008 draft. He was traded to Portland before his rookie season. Only 25 but entering his seventh NBA season, Bayless joins a team that has three teenagers on its roster.

“Even though I’m younger I’ve been through a lot in this league and I’ll try to teach these guys the right way to do things,” Bayless said.

Bayless played one season in college. At Arizona in 2007-08 he became the first freshman in school history to lead the team in both scoring (19.7 points) and assists (4.0).